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Explore content from blog posts to technical white papers gathered together for your convenience. All written by Altium's community of PCB design experts.

Wearable Electronics Until recently, wearable accessories had one primary purpose-- to be fashionable. Sure, watches are useful for keeping time and staying punctual, but that's about as far as things went for functionality. Today, we have a rising selection of wearable electronics, many of which can be directly credited with a rise in health and lifestyle improvements. They track distance and time on your runs, help assess whether you're getting the right amount of Download PDF
Rigid Flex PCBs Between the Internet of Things (IoT), wearable electronics, and flexible displays, there is an increasing demand for flexible and rigid flex PCB technology in the electronics industry. If PCB designers don't want to be left in the dust, it's of the utmost importance to learn and adapt to this new tech, where PCBs must be compact, nearly (or completely) wireless, and-- most obviously-- flexible. Through proper design planning, utilization of space Download PDF
PCB Layout As electronics get smaller and more complex, so too must the boards (PCBs) that make them function. Because of this, your PCB layouts matter more than ever before. While a PCB with a poor layout may still function, a well-planned layout will go a long way to ensure efficiency, minimize risk, and even save you money in your production budget. The care you put into your PCB layout can give your product a strategic edge over competition through Download PDF
3D PCB Design When it comes to designing circuit boards, you know that being able to properly visualize your spacing, sizing, and layout is crucial to a successful finished product with minimal setbacks. While standard PCB design software has its place, 3D PCB software allows you to get a detailed look at your routing, components, and overall layout BEFORE you send your design out for a physical prototype. As 3D environments become more advanced, they become Download PDF
High Voltage PCB Design When it comes to designing high voltage PCBs, it's important to ensure your layout is able to control and optimize electric field strengths for optimal operation and longevity. While the manufacturing process of high voltage PCBs remains similar to that of normal PCBs, careful attention to the materials you use, as well as their properties, are crucial to success. A thorough understanding of spacing rules, clearances, operating frequencies, and Download PDF
PCB Design Techniques to Reduce EMI Reduce EMI in your PCB designs. This presentation will discuss multiple ways good PCB design can help manage EMI interference on your board. It covers tips and tricks for basics and beyond, including: using EMI cans for shielding, proper grounding techniques, trace length, isolating AC and DC signals and differential pair routing. Click the PDF above to read more about PCB design techniques to reduce EMI in this presentation. Or view the original Download PDF
How to Work with Your PCB CAD Software Support Technicians Have you ever been in a situation where you are trying to help someone, but they don’t understand what you are talking about? You want to help them through their difficulties, but the two of you seem to be from different worlds. If that scenario doesn’t sound familiar to you, then you’ve probably never raised teenagers. If it does ring a bell, then you may be a seasoned parent, or you may even be a customer support technician. I firmly believe Read Article
Essential PCB Design Tips: How to Implement a Watchdog Timer in Your PCB Design When you work from home there are some perks of the job. You can make your own meals, slot in some laundry over lunch, and drink all the tea you want. I use a stove-top kettle to boil water for my tea, so when I get in the writing zone, I rely on its high pitched whistle to tell me when it’s done. Except sometimes when I’m careless, I don’t fit the lid on properly. As a result, the kettle remains silent despite the fact that the liquid water Read Article
The Top Reasons Why PCB Design Software with Auto Routing Can Save You Time I’ve been designing printed circuit boards long enough that my family has sadly grown accustomed to me spending more time at work than at home. When deadlines are looming, everyone knows I’ll be working late nights at the office. Modern PCB design software with auto-routing tools can help you cut down your routing time, but not everyone is a fan of these features. I know all the arguments against using an auto-router because I’ve been using them Read Article
PCB Design Tutorial: Tips for Using Optocouplers in Your PCB Layout Are you guilty of hitting the snooze button at least twice before you reluctantly wake up from your blissful sleep? My wife claims that I probably have the world record time for hitting the snooze button since I do it without even opening my eyes. But there are times when the third snooze alarm mysteriously doesn’t go off and it is a losing battle to get my day started on time. In electronics, embedded systems often rely on optocouplers to Read Article
Thermal Relief Pad Design for PCB Layouts I once read that young Eddie Rickenbacker got pranked by his older co-workers when they sent him around to ask for a tool that doesn’t exist. Later on, Rickenbacker would become a race car driver in the 1900’s, an automotive designer, an American air ace in World War I, a government consultant, and eventually the head of Eastern Air Lines. Yet as a junior apprentice in that automotive shop, he had to learn the basics of his trade the same as the Read Article
3D PCB Design 3D PCB Design takes board design to the next level, especially when it comes to Multi-board system design. Learn tips and techniques to approach 3D PCB design that will help you take your unified design process to the next level. Being able to properly visualize your spacing, sizing, and layout is crucial to success. Learn more from this 3D PCB Design presentation, and click the PDF above to read more in this presentation overview. Or view the Download PDF
PCB Layout Become an expert in PCB Layout when you use Altium Designer software. Benefits to the Unified Data Model Approach include not just time savings, but the potential of simultaneous design that is available with the integrated schematics and PCB layouts offered in Altium Designer. Simultaneously consider the big picture and the very details that impact your projects' success. Click the PDF above to read more about PCB Layout in this presentation Download PDF
Protect Your PCB From ESD From computers and televisions, to automobiles and kitchen appliances, PCBs are found in nearly every aspect of our lives-- many of our devices would not be possible without them. They are the brains of our electronics, and as such, it is of the utmost importance to do everything in our power to ensure our designs are protected from potentially catastrophic threats. Proper routing and schematics, component placement, and special attention to Download PDF
How PCB Software Performance Affects the Layout of Power Planes and Ground Planes The detective on your favorite police television show will often be looking for the plain facts of the case. In PCB design tools, we have some “plane” facts to look for. One of those would be getting a better understanding of what it takes to create a power plane and a ground plane. As designers, we know that planes provide power and ground to the components on our boards. We also know how to manipulate our tools in order to create those planes Read Article
The Different Types of Support for Circuit Building Software My 10-year-old son came to me a couple of weeks ago with a problem that he needed my help with. His bicycle wouldn’t shift out of the upper gear and therefore he wasn’t able to ride it. As it turned out, all I needed to do was to straighten a bent derailleur and add some lubricate. A few minutes later my son was pedaling happily down the street to meet with the rest of his friends. That got me to thinking, the help that my son needed from me is Read Article
PCB Design Tips: Should You Include an External Watchdog Timer (WDT) in Your Board Design Would you invest in an external mouse, keyboard, and a high definition monitor when your laptop comes equipped with these features? It’s a personal choice, especially when you want to turn your laptop into a portable workstation. My girlfriend, who’s starting her career as a professional accountant, dismissed my choice as a waste of money. In electronics, deciding whether to include an external watchdog timer (WDT) into your PCB design can be an Read Article